PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Farboleous Ricard (ranked 227 p4p, 310 weight class) and Taine Raharuhi (ranked 30 p4p, 38 weight class). Ricard comes to the cage accompanied by Vibe Killer. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Ricard
vs
Raharuhi

172 cm
37
155
36 - 20 - 1

180 cm
31
165
29 - 12 - 4

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

UnderGround Clothing Co.
Savage Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Farboleous Ricard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 12 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taine Raharuhi!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Atkins and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raharuhi moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Raharuhi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ricard.
Raharuhi tries to work over Ricard's front leg with a kick but Ricard checks it.
Ricard throwing a counter right hand but Raharuhi manages to avoid it.
Ricard misses with a left hand
and Raharuhi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ricard moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ricard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Raharuhi tried to score with a low kick but Ricard checks it.
Ricard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Raharuhi manages to avoid it.
Raharuhi slips under a jab.
Ricard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Raharuhi.
Raharuhi lands with a nice body kick.
Ricard misses with a low kick.
Ricard is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Raharuhi's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Raharuhi misses with a low kick.
Raharuhi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ricard tries to land a front kick but Raharuhi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ricard tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Raharuhi is able to avoid easily.
Raharuhi blocks the body kick.
Raharuhi tried to score with a low kick but Ricard checks it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ricard lands a head shot.
Raharuhi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ricard just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricard throws a hook but Raharuhi blocks it.
Ricard throws an overhand right that lands on Raharuhi's shoulder, as Raharuhi tries to avoid the shot.
Raharuhi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ricard is looking to slow Raharuhi down with leg kicks.
Raharuhi throws a wild body kick that Ricard sees coming a mile off.
Ricard moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Raharuhi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ricard checks a low kick from Raharuhi.
Ricard has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Ricard uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Raharuhi.
Ricard half committed to a counter leg kick.
Raharuhi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Raharuhi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice defenses there by Raharuhi.
Raharuhi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Raharuhi is looking to chop away at Ricard's legs.
Ricard feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Raharuhis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A combination from Raharuhi does no damage.
Ricard throws the left hand but Raharuhi avoids the punch easily.
A low kick from Raharuhi is predictable there
and Ricard counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice defenses there by Ricard.
Crunch! Raharuhi slams his shin into Ricard's torso.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raharuhi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ricard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Raharuhi.
Ricard throws a right hand that Raharuhi ducks under and follows up with a left that Raharuhi also avoids with ease.
Ricard has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Raharuhi.
Taine Raharuhi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ricard looks to throw the jab but Raharuhi is out of range.

Raharuhi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Ricard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ricard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ricard fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Raharuhi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ricard attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Raharuhi scores with a jab.
Raharuhi thows a leg kick but Ricard checks it

and Ricard counters with a single leg into guard. Raharuhi didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ricard stays in close to Raharuhi's body and controls the position.
Raharuhi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Raharuhi pulls Ricard in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ricard wants to control from the top but Raharuhi keeps moving.
Raharuhi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ricard is stalling in the full guard.
Raharuhi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ricard manages to get himself to full guard.

Ricard keeping moving, preventing Raharuhi from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ricard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Raharuhi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ricard is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raharuhi trying to control but Ricard is working from the bottom.

Ricard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Raharuhi sitting in guard here, content to control.

Ricard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Raharuhi defends it easily.
Ricard wants to sweep here but Raharuhi controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Farboleous Ricard will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ricard dives in and grabs Raharuhi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Raharuhi pushes down on Ricard's head and hops out.
Raharuhi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Ricard shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Raharuhi is trying to defend but Ricard finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Raharuhi pushes Ricard off and gets back to his feet.
Raharuhi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ricard tries to land a body kick
and Raharuhi counters with a two punch combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ricard tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Raharuhi is able to avoid easily.
Taine Raharuhi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Raharuhi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ricard cracks Raharuhi with a good jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A looping hook to the body misses from Ricard. Raharuhi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Raharuhi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ricard.
Raharuhi takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Ricard closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Raharuhi to the mat! Raharuhi manages to get full guard.
Raharuhi wants to sweep but no luck.
Raharuhi keeping moving, preventing Ricard from controlling successfully.
Raharuhi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raharuhi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ricard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ricard trying to control the position from guard on top but Raharuhi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ricard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Raharuhi keeping moving, preventing Ricard from controlling successfully.
Ricard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raharuhi is keeping the position for now.
Raharuhi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Raharuhi keeping moving, preventing Ricard from controlling successfully.
Raharuhi wants to sweep here but Ricard controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ricard advances position into side control!
Raharuhi isn't going anywhere.
You can see the frustration on Raharuhi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ricard wants to control but Raharuhi is keeping him busy.
Raharuhi can't do much from the bottom here.

Ricard is trying to get an arm triangle but Raharuhi is defending well.
Farboleous Ricard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ricard working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricard taking a break here but Raharuhi is having none of it and regains half guard.
Ricard wants to control but Raharuhi is keeping him busy.
Ricard seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Raharuhi tries to roll over but Ricard keeps him under control.

Ricard looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ricard in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Ricard seems to be working for a kimura but Raharuhi defends the submission attempt.
Raharuhi felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Raharuhi is refusing to be controlled, as Ricard sits in half guard.
Ricard is thwarting Raharuhi's attempts to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ricard is looking to advance position but Raharuhi won't allow it.
Raharuhi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ricard is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Farboleous Ricard will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ricard fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ricard tries to land a leg kick but Raharuhi saw it coming and moves away.
Some bone on bone action there as Ricard checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Raharuhi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ricard's sensitive parts.
Raharuhi works Ricard's body with a nice hook.
Ricard connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Raharuhi momentarily.
Raharuhi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ricard's sensitive parts.
A solid body kick from Ricard.
Raharuhi misses with a body shot.
Ricard is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Raharuhi scores with a three punch combo!
Ricard looks to score with a jab to the body but Raharuhi is just out of range.
Ricard tries to score with a low kick but Raharuhi moves his leg out of the way.
Raharuhi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ricard appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Raharuhi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raharuhi avoids a kick to the body.
Raharuhi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Ricard connects with a good right hand that stumbles Raharuhi. Raharuhi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ricard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big right from Raharuhi misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricard tries to land a leg kick but Raharuhi saw it coming and moves away.
Ricard attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ricard lands a jab.
Ricard throws an off balance right hand

and Raharuhi moves into the clinch.
Ricard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Ricard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ricard gets a clinch.
Ricard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ricard blocking some punches.
Raharuhi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Raharuhi misses with a body punch.
Raharuhi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ricards head.
Ricard blocks an uppercut.
Raharuhi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Raharuhi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ricard.
Raharuhi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ricard's elbow.
Raharuhi lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ricard or not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricard working aggressively here.
Raharuhi misses with some punches.

Ricard drags the fight down to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ricard controls Raharuhi momentarily but Raharuhi frees himself.
Raharuhi tries to stand but Ricard is controlling from the bottom.
Ricard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ricard is looking to sweep but instead, Raharuhi has passed into half guard.
Raharuhi trying to control the pace.
Ricard makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ricard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ricard is looking for a triangle but Raharuhi pushes his legs off easily.
Raharuhi is stalling in the full guard.
Raharuhi trying to control but Ricard is working from the bottom.
Taine Raharuhi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raharuhi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ricard has his hands on Raharuhi's head, controlling the position.
Raharuhi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ricard keeping moving, preventing Raharuhi from controlling successfully.
Raharuhi postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ricard checks a leg kick nicely.
Raharuhi closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ricard connects with a jab.
The fighters circling - Ricard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ricard scores with a jab. Raharuhi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ricard throws a jab when Raharuhi was well out of range.
Raharuhi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ricard.
Raharuhi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Raharuhi throws a body punch but Ricard moves out of range.
Raharuhi throws a jab when Ricard was well out of range.

Ricard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Farboleous Ricard.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ricard, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Farboleous Ricard!
Farboleous Ricard decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.